A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Bidens pilosa

PLANT NAME: Bidens spp.

COMMON NAMES: Kïnehi (Bidens pilosa) , ko'oko'olau (native Bidens species) [Hawai'i]; xian feng cao ("abundant weed"), gui zhen cao ("demon spike grass" or "ghost needle weed") [China]; aceitilla [Spanish]; amor seco (Desmodium adscendens is also called "amor seco") [Peru]; beggars tick / spanish needle / needle grass [USA]; black jack [South Africa]; cobblers peg [Australia]; fisi 'uli [Tonga]; has kung chia, han feng cao [Taiwan]; muni [Aymara, Quechua]; ottrancedi [India]; picao preto, cuamba [Brazil]; piripiri [Cook Islands]; saetilla, sillk'iwa [Quechua]; sanana vinillo, saytilla, natilluna [Bolivia]; spanish needle, needle grass [Barbados, St. Thomas]; te de coral [Mexico]; z'herbe zedruite [Caribbean]; fisi'uli [Tonga]; uqadolo [Southern Africa]; z'herbe zedruite, z'herbe z'aiguille [Dominica, Martinique].

TOXICITY: See Cautions and Contraindications.

CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Can irritate the bladder and kidney in high doses. Some constituents may be weak esophageal carcinogens [Mirvish 1979].

USE AS FOOD: Young leaves sometimes eaten raw or steamed, but the taste can be a bit strong. In Zimbabwe the leaves are boiled with peanut butter and eaten. Bidens pilosa is eaten in Africa as a vegetable.
Fermented with rice to make "sake".

RANGE: Bidens pilosa is native to South America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Philippines. There are 60 native species of Bidens in Hawai'i, and 19 of those are endemic.

GATHERING: You don't have to… it gathers you. Gather before the achenes (hitchhikers) appear on the flower heads. In China it is gathered late summer - fall.
Note: Do Not gather native Bidens species. The introduced varieties work very well and are not endangered… not by a long shot. The rule of thumb is: If the Bidens gathers you (produces hitchhikers), then you can gather the Bidens. Native species do not produce hitchhikers.

NOTES 'N QUOTES